Common terms in gender based violence

Gender based violence especially when it relates to women has been an issue of great importance all over the world in recent times. And in Africa, where culture and religious beliefs blur the lines on what actually is right and what constitutes abuse, it is important to explain some terms to make it easy for people to understand what violence is.

Knowledge about what constitute abuse makes it easy for victims to understand when they are being abused and also let perpetrators know when they are crossing the line of normal behaviour into being violent because justice is a two-way street.

The first term is abuse itself; many believe that abuse is only physical but under the law, abuse refers to any pattern of degrading or humiliating conduct towards a woman while battery means intentional and unlawful use of force or violence on a woman, this is not only beating a woman but it also covers unlawful touching or striking in any way with the intention of causing bodily harm.

There is also discrimination, which is any distinction, exclusion, restriction or any differential treatment based on sex and whose objectives or effects are to compromise or destroy the recognition of a woman while exploitation is taking undue advantage of a woman.

Another act that is a criminal offence under the violence against women law is desertion. This refers to deliberately leaving a woman, child or other person under the perpetrator’s care without any means of sustenance.

One offence that many people will easily commit without knowing is being an accessory, that is, someone who helps another person in committing a crime or avoiding arrest under the Violence against Women Act but does not participate in the crime while an accessory before the fact is someone who helps an offender before a crime and an accessory after the fact is someone who helps an offender willingly after a crime had been committed. All these acts are punishable under the law and attract jail term, a fine or both.

Another offence is circumcision or genital mutilation: this is cutting off or part or all of the external private organs of a woman or girl for any reason other than on medical grounds.

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Is dangerous weapon which is any instrument or machine directed towards a woman with the intention of inflicting bodily harm and damage to property which refers to all willful or reckless destruction of property belonging to a woman or in which she has vested interest.

There is the word criminal responsibility which means a man is liable to punishment after being found guilty of an offence.

A common act based on culture is harmful traditional practice which refers to any behaviour attitude or practice in relation to a tradition or custom which negatively affects the fundamental rights, dignity as well as the physical or emotional well being of a woman such as harmful widowhood practices, denial of inheritance or succession rights, female circumcision or female genital mutilation, forced marriage, isolation from family and friend which also includes preventing from leaving home or having contact with family.

One other act is grievous harm which means any harm which seriously or permanently injures the health or is likely to injure the health or which results to permanent disfigurement or serious injury to any external organ, member or sense of a woman and intimidation which is uttering or conveying a threat to incite fear in a woman or cause discomfort.

In response to enquiries on steps to take in cases of abuse in Oyo state, once you have any issue of abuse, call the Oyo State Gender Based Violence Response Team (OYO-SGBVRT) on 09094333331.